Bill-file



PQ H. HOLMES.

BILL FILE.

(Applicatio flied May 14, 1897.)

No. 608,122.l 'Patented 1u|y zii/|898.

(No Model.)

WHIQZSSZS llnrrnn Freres PHILIP HOLMES, OF GARDINER, MAINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.`60`8,1`22, dated. July 26, 1898. Application inea nay 14. 1897. serial No. 636.500. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP H. HOLMES, a resident of Gardiner, in the county of Kennebec and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bill- Files; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in bill-iiles, the object of the invention being to provide a simple and efficient bill-file in which papers or letters can be storedin regular or, if desired, in alphabetical order, and

so that any paper or letter can be readily in-V spected or removed without injury thereto and without interference by other papers or letters in the file.

A further object is to provide a bill-file in which papers or letters can be stored, so as to be protected from dust and dirt, which can be manufactured cheaply and at the same time be strong and durable in construction, ornamental in appearance, and effectual in all respects in the performance of its functions.

A further object is to provide a paper-clip for a bill-file which shall be simple in construction and cheap to manufacture.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view showing my im proved billfile open. Fig. 2 is a sectional view. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the paper-clips. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detached View of the upper portion of the clip, a portion of the base-plate being broken away to show the construction of pawls for hinging the keeper to the base-plate. l

A represents a paper holder or boX and comprises a bottom l, a top 2, and a back 3. These parts are made of wood or other stift material and are connected together by means of a flexible strip 4, which is secured to the outer face of the back 3 and made to overlap the top and bottom of the box or holder, so that said parts l, 2, and 3 will be hinged together. Sti end pieces 5 5 and a stiff front piece 6 are secured to the bottom 1, and similar strips or pieces 7, 7, and 8 are secured to the top 2, the strips secured to the top being narrower than those secured to the bottom' of the box and adapted to lie on the edges of the latter when the box or holder is closed.

A series of paper-clips B (two, more or less) is secured to the inner face of the back `3 for the reception of papers to be stored in the box or holder. All of these clips being the same in construction, a description of one will suffice for all. In constructing the clip B, I employ a base-plate o, to which a narrow flat strip of spring metal is secured. The strip b is bent outwardly from one end of the baseplate and then over or parallel with said baseplate, so as to form an L-shaped arm c, which terminates at its free end in a beveled pointed portion d, having a hole c. The inner end of the strip b is `bent outwardly to form an L- shaped arm f, adapted to act as a gage or stop to prevent papers 'from being nnevenly attached to the arm or hook c. The upper end of the base-plate a is made with a slot g, through which an I -shaped arm or keeper 7L is passed and in which said arm or keeperis pivotally supported. The arm or keeper is composed of a thin flat strip of metal, which is provided at one end (under or behind the base-plate o) with a head or enlargement t', which projects slightly outwardly from the body portion of said arm or keeper. The outwardly-projecting shoulders e" o" of the head t' are seated upon and retained against the semioircular bearings 't2 t2, formed at the opposite ends of the slot g, whereby the keeper is insured a free swinging movement. A dat spring j is secured to the rear face of the base ce and bears at its free end against the head or enlargement t' of the arm or keeper, so as to normally maintain the free beveled end 7.: of the latter in engagement with and over the pointed end of the hook c. In order to prevent any possibility of acci` dental disengagement of the keeper from the hook, the former is provided with a small pin l, adapted to enter the hole in the pointed end IOC of the latter, and the normal retention of the pin Z in the hole e will be insured by the resiliency of the hook c.

For the accommodation of the spring j the back 3 is recessed, as at m.

It is apparent that when it is desired to apply papers or letters to the clips it is merely necessary to raise the keepers and place the edge of the paper or letter on the hooks c, and after the paper is in position on the hooks the keepers will be again pressed and made to assume their normal positions.

When it is desired to refer to a particular paper in the iile, this may be readily accomplished by moving the papers upon or onto the keepers h; but in order to facilitate the reading of the paper selected without interference by other papers I prefer to support the back 3 of the file in au inclined position with respect to the bottom 1 and allow the papers to rest on the inner face of the cover 2. This may be readily accomplished by means of a catch n, one part of which will be attached to the back 3 and the other part to one of the end strips 5.

Suitable catches 0 will be provided for the vdevice to keep it tightly closed when not in use.

My improvements are Very simple in construction, will be useful in keeping papers clean and in order and yet permit them to be examined when desired, and are effectual in all respects in the performance of theirfunctions.

Slight changes might be made in the details of construction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting its scope, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details herein set forth.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a bill-file the combination with a box or holder comprising a back and a top and bottom hinged to the back, of hook devices one connected with the bottom and the other with the back and the two detachable from each other for securing the back at an angle of inclination to the bottom, substantially as set forth.

2. In a bil1lile,the combination with a baseplate and a fiat metal strip secured to the base-plate, one end of said strip being bent outward and upward and terminating in a point, While the other end is bent outward and downward to form a gage or stop, of a hinged keeper mounted in a slot forlned in the base-plate, said keeper being formed with outwardly-projecting shoulders which rest Within bearings formed in the rear face of the base-plate, and a spring secured to the baseplate and engaging the head on the keeper, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, PHILIP I-l. HOLMES. Witnesses:

ALDINE HOLMES, GEO. M. Hora/nrs. 

